Rope clamp



Aug. 114, 11951 I R. w. SILER 2,564,036

' ROPE CLAMP Filed March 21, 1949 5 Sheets-Shet 1 v INVENTOR. R. W 5z'ler Aug. 14, R951 R w. slLER 9 3 ROPE CLAMP v Filed March 21, 1949Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 14, 1951 R. w. SILER 2,564,036

ROPE CLAMP Filed March 21, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

iii M52767" W e m 2 Aug. 14, 1951 R w, slLER 2,564,036

ROPE CLAMP Filed March 21, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIHI m I 67 6 5 4INVENTOR.

' BYRHWSZ'Ze'r Aug. 14, 1951 R. w. SILER 2,564,036

ROPE CLAMP Filed March 21, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 4 EPW521091 BY#M ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1951 ENT omcs ROPE CLAMP gt eag Sil er;wiui sb re k s n" Siler Sling Corp-J mmi Application March 21, 19 19,Serial No. 82,534

This invention relates, to anuimprovedr rope clamp and is animprovementover the construction embodied in my. PatentjNo;2,515,571,.dated July 18, 1950, fi1ed'NovemberH15,1948, .forimprovedSling Clamp, i 1,An1object of this invention is. to provide a clampfor arope, which maybe formed of either wire or fibers, which will tightlygripthe rope with the "gripping, force increasing inxpropor tion to thepull exerted on the 110136."; A ,further important objectofthe inventionresides in the provision of a'double wedge type rope. clampof thetypedisclosed in my. above mentioned patent .wherein .the' interior. groovesof the coactingwedges are provided with flared portions attheir point,of .closest engagement whereby the loopof the rope'extending. betweenthe :wedges maybe passed by theuloop surrounding 1 the same to,providelazzreadily. adjustable sling. .2 Another object of thisinventionjs to provide a clamp 'assemblyrincluding a: pair of clampframes with each'frame having a pair of wedges, and a connector securedbetween, the frames. A further objectof.this;invention is.toipro-a videa clamp structurewhichgmay; be. used either singly or in .pairs'whereinthe wedgeframe may be stamped from sheet metaliand the frame pieceseither bolted, welded ,or otherwise secured together. r": r 1

i In one embodiment of this invention "one :of the frame members isprovided with: a pairrof aligned eyes through which thesrope'is extendedfrom the wedges so as to provide a loop in the rope which will betightened iii-proportion to the-pull on'the rope-.7 m", ".T'Ij. 1 Inanother embodiment -0 this-invention 'a single piece of rope may beformedcinto :a .sling or loop of fixed length by meansxof a'pairiofclamps securedyto a connector, with an eyeiyse-v cured to the connector.a;

In a further embodiment of this invention, a single clamp structure isused as a dead: end clamp adapted to bear against-a fixed element;rAiurther object of this invention is to provide an improved connectorfor use with a pair of sling clamps so that a basket or double sling maybe formed and secured to suspension means. -With the above and otherobjects inview, my invention consists in the arrangementcombinationanddetails of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, andthen more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. e

In the drawings, H

Fisure is a detail si e elevatinn .:o.f a rees f 4 Claims; ((124-126) 2clamp constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, i a 111Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, 7

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, .1Figured is a bottom plan or inner side view'. partly in section, showingone pair of; the wire clamping wedges, 1 .i V, V

Figure 5'is a bottom plan or outer :side; view of the smaller one of thepair of wedge members, Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the clevisused in connecting a pair of these clampingdee vices together, 1 Figure7 is a detail end elevation of the clevis, Figure 8 is a detail sideelevation of a modified form of this invention, 1 i Figure 9 is a planview, partly. broken away and in section,of the supporting frame for thewedge members shown in Figurev 8, V, Figure 10 is a detail sideelevation, partly brokenaway, of another modified form of thisinvention, I

Figure 11 is a plan view of the frame shown in Figure 10, i

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line I2-l2 of Figure 11,

'wFigure 13 is a detail side elevation of another modified form of thisinvention, 1 Figure 14 is a plan viewppartly broken away and in section,of the frame shown in Figure 13, 1 Figure 15 is a sectional view takenon the line l5-I5. of Figure 13,

Figure 16 is a detail side elevation of another form of clevis; i I tFigure 17 is a detail end elevation of the clevis shown in Figure 16, Is 1 1 Figure .18 is a view similar to Figure 1, partly in elevation andpartly in section showing the path of travel of the rope, V l i Figure19 is an inner side View of the crescent shaped wedge. a i Referring tothe drawings and first to Figures 1 to .7 inclusive, the numerals 20 and2| designate generally a pair of ropeclamping members which arev securedin downwardly divergent relation to a clevis 22. The clevis 22 is oftriangular. con--v figuration in side elevationand has mounted betweenthe triangular sides 23 thereof the shank 24 carried by a ring 25. l Theshank24 is mounted on a pivot pin 26 en: gaging through the sides 23 sothat the clevis 22 mayrock relative tothe shank 24 and the suspensionmeans whichisconnectedwith the ring or; eye 25. The twoclamping members20 and aka connected together shanks 39 and through the w sides 23 ofthe clevis 22.

The frame has loosely mounted within theelongated rings or loops 28thereof a pair of wire clamping wedge members generally designated as 33and 34. The wedge member 33 isthe larger one of these wedges andincludes a substantiallyelliptical body 35 which is formed on theopposite sides thereof with flanges 36 within which theloop members 28are adapted to loosely engage. The body 35 is formed witha grooved andlongitudinally curved rib 31 extending from substan tially." the. outer:portion of the body 35, about the outer side of the body 35. The body 35also ineludes a groove 38 merging with the grooved rib 31, and thegroove 38 is formed with a flared grooved portion 39, the purpose forwhich will be hereinafter described.

The rib 31, as shown in Figure 4', engages between: the loops or rings23 and coacts with the flanges 36 in holding the body 35 within th tworings or loops 28. The second and smaller wedge 34. is formed with aconcave inner side 49, engaging about the body 35, and the body 35 isprovided. with relatively. wide flanges 4| constituting extensions. of.the. flanges 36 and between which the small wedge member 34 is adaptedto loosely engage. The wedge member 34 is formed with a grooved rib 42which is adapted to be positioned in alignment with the rib 3'! so thatthe ropeR may. be. wrapped: about the two wedge members 33. andz34, andbe extendedbetween the'two wedge members, engaging in the flared groove39 of the body 35 to guidethe rope toan end position in thecomplementary flared groove 43 which is formed in the small wedge member34, in which the ropes also engage.

Theend of ropeR is extended between the small wedge 34 and eye frames atthe lug or inner end. The rope is then wrapped clockwise about thelarger wedge member 33, being positioned in the groove-of rib 31 andisthen brought downwardly and extended upwardly between the two wedges33and. 34, the free end projecting upwardlyas shown in Figure l. Theflared grooves 39. and 43 permit. the free" end of the rope to beshifted laterally so that the looped and binding portion of the; ropemaybe positioned within the. grooves of the two wedge members 33 and 34.As strain is applied to the extended portion- 44' of. the rope, thestrain will move small wedge member 34 downwardly and outwardly to atight wedging position against the larger wedge member 33. By having.the two clamping devices 28" and 2|, a single length of rope maybeengaged with the two clamping devices and the rope extended downwardlyin a loop for forming a sling.

Referring. now to Figure. 81there is disclosed a modified formofthistinvention, which is designed particularly for use in connecting theends of a clothesline or other. fibrous rope or wire. A frame structuregenerally designated as 45 has two pairs of wedge members 33a, and 34a:mounted therein,- whieh' areidentical with th wedge members 33 endl34.'l3he frame.str-ucture:45 includes a pairof oppositely extendingelongated loop members 46 and 41 which are connected together by meansof a U-shaped connecting member 48 integral with the loop members 41 and46. A second pair of loop members 49 and 50 are disposed in confrontingposition with respect to the loop members 46 and 41 respectively, andthe loop members 49 and 50 are connected together by means of a U-shapedconnecting member 5|. The two U- shaped members 48 and 5| are securedtogether by fastening means 52 which in the present instance is shown asa pair of bolts or screws, although it will be understood that ifdesired the connecting members 48 and 5! may be secured together bywelding or th like.

In the use of the-clamping structure shown in Figure 8, the two ropemembers 53 and 54 are extended about and between the wedge members 336;and 34a, with the free ends of the ropes extended downwardly, as. shownin Figure 8. As tension is applied to the ropes 53 and 54, the wedgemembers 340. will be drawn to clamping position withr'espect. to thelarge wedge members 33a. The rope willbe tightly clamped in proportionto the pull or strain which is applied thereto.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, there is disclosed another:modification of this invention, embodying a looped: frame structuregenerally designated: as 55, with which one end of a rope 55 is adaptedto be connected. The. frame structure 55 includ'esza pair of 1001)members 5'! connected together at their outer ends by a connecting baror plate 58,.and the loops 5'! are formed with offset longitudinallycurved shanks 59 which are secured to a base plate 68 having an upwardlyopening slot 6 ltherein through which the rope 56 is adapted to beextended. The plate 68 forms the base for the endclampingstructureshown' in Figures 10 andv 11' and if desired. may b secured byany suitable fastening means to a support. The two loops: 5T of theframe 55 have mounted therein a pair: of wedge members 3322 and 34?)which ar identical with the wedge members 33 and 34. As shown in Figure10, the rope 56 has one end thereof extended through the slot 6|,extended counterclockwise over the small wedge member 34b and largewedge 33?) and finally passed between. the wedges and the free enddropped downwardly.

Referring now to Figures 12 to 15 inclusive, there: is disclosedvanother modification of the invention designedl foruse in providing aslip loop on: a rope. A pairof looped frame members. 62 and 63 formedwith opposed arcuat-e end portions 64 and 65 respectively are securedtogeth r by fastening means 66. The loop m'emb'ers 62 and 63 havemounted therein rope clamping wedge members 330 and 340' identical withthe wedge members 33 and 34, and the frame member 63 is formed at oneend thereof with an eye 61 ex tending at right angles to-the-length of:the frame member 63.

A second-eye or guide ring 68' is formed at the opposite end of theframe member 63 in sub-' stantial alignment with th eye or. guide member61. As shown in- Figure 13, the free end of the rope 69- is extendedinitially through guides 68 and 61, over the outer groove of small wedge340, being passed about the large wedge member 330 and then between thewedge members 330 and 340. A contracting loop 19 will be formedintheropewhich willbe contracted according to the strainer pullappliedto the rope 69'at the end thereof opposite from the clamping structureherein disclosed.

The clamping structure shown in Figures 13 and 14 provides a slip loopwhich may be mounted at any point along the length of the rope and acontracting loop formed in the rope at a desired point without cuttingthe rope or forming knots or the like in the rope.

Referring now to Figures 16 and 17, there is disclosed a modified formof clevis embodying a pair of triangular plates H having openings '32which in the present instance are three in number so that if desiredthree clamping devices may be secured to the clevis or if desired a ringor other element may be mounted in the apex of one of the openings 12.The two plates H are connected together by a U-shaped connecting member13 which may be engaged by a hook or ring. The clevis shown in Figures16 and 17 is shown in an inverted position.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rope clamp comprising a frame formed of a pair of connectedtogether frame members having coaxial elliptical openings, a pair ofwedge members loosely mounted in said openings, one of said wedgemembers being of substantially elliptical configuration in sideelevation, a pair of outer flanges carried by said one wedge memberengaging on the outer sides of said pair of frame members, a fragmentarylongitudinal rib carried by said one wedge member engaging between saidframe members, said rib having a groove on the outer side thereof, saidone wedge member having a groove aligning with the groove of said rib,the end of said last mentioned groove adjacent said rib between saidflanges having a flared portion, said other wedge member being ofelongated configuration having a convex outer side and a concave innerside, said inner side having a groove confronting the groove of said onewedge member, a grooved rib carried by said other wedge member engagingbetween said pair of frame members, said last mentioned groove beingflared at one end adjacent said first mentioned flared portion, the ropebeing initially extended over the outer groove of the other of saidwedge members, over the grooved rib of said one wedge member, and thenextended between said wedge members.

2. A rope clamp comprising a frame formed of a pair of substantiallyelliptical frame members formed with elliptical openings, means securingsaid frame members together at one small end thereof, a substantiallyelliptical wedge member movably disposed between said frame members, asecond wedge of partly crescent shape disposed between said framemembers with the concave edge thereof confronting the convex edge ofsaid elliptical wedge member, said wedge members having grooves aboutthe edges thereof within which the rope is adapted to engage, the confronting portions of the grooves of said members being flared for aportion of the confronting lengths thereof, the flared portions of saidgrooves extending from a point inwardly of one end of said concave edgeto an end of said concave edge.

3. A rope clamp comprising a frame formed of a pair of substantiallyelliptical frame members formed with elliptical openings, means securingsaid frame members together at one small end thereof, a substantiallyelliptical wedge member movably disposed between said frame members, asecond wedge of partly crescent shape disposed between said framemembers with the concave edge thereof confronting the convex edge ofsaid elliptical Wedge member, said wedge members having grooves aboutthe edges thereof within which the rope is adapted to engage, and a pairof laterally extending eyes carried by one of said frame members, theconfronting portions of the grooves of said members being flared for aportion of the confronting lengths thereof, the flared portions of saidgrooves extending from a, point inwardly of one end of said concave edgeto an end of said concave edge.

4. A rope clamp comprising a frame formed of a pair of, substantiallyelliptical frame members formed with elliptical openings, means securingsaid frame members together at one small end thereof, a substantiallyelliptical wedge member movably disposed between said frame members, asecond wedge of partly crescent shape disposed between said framemembers with the concave edge thereof confronting the convex edge ofsaid elliptical wedge member, said wedge members having grooves aboutthe edges thereof within which the rope is adapted to engage, and aslotted base carried by the opposite ends of said frame members, theconfronting portions of the grooves of said members being flared for aportion of the confronting lengths thereof, the flared portions of saidgrooves extending from a point inwardly of one end of said concave edgeto an end of said concave edge.

ROBERT W. SILER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,379,311 Page May 24, 19211,758,312 De Right May 13, 1930 2,384,497 Siler Sept. 11, 1945

